KARAT, YECHURY FAIL TO REACH CONSENSUS ON CONGRESS STAND

NEW DELHI: The internal factions of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), led by general secretary Sitaram Yechury and his predecessor Prakash Karat, failed to arrive at an understanding on the party’s tactical line vis-à-vis the Congress, the largest Opposition party.

After a two-day meeting of the politburo in which both Yechury and Karat presented contrasting notes, the issue has been referred to the Central Committee for a final decision.

“The politburo discussed the draft political report for the 22nd Congress. These discussions will now be placed for the Central committee’s consideration at its forthcoming meeting from January 19-21 at Kolkata,” a party statement said.

While Yechury and some leaders are of the opinion that the party must open a channel for “political understanding” with the Congress, the Karat lobby wants CPI(M) to have no truck with the Congress.

The party had supported the first Congress-led UPA government for four years but the relationship ended on a bitter note.

Decades ago, the CPI(M) had tweaked its political-tactical line and dumped its policy of maintaining “an equidistance from the BJP and the Congress” to resist the rise of the BJP through a combined Opposition.

In the 2016 Party Congress however, the party changed tack again and cut off all ties with the Congress.

Now, when the BJP looks formidable, Yechury wants the party’s stance changed to give it more room to manoeuvre with the Congress. While Karat is vehemently opposed to any understanding, his note said that CPI(M) can have a tie with other parties even if they are Congress allies.